The collection of artifacts were recovered during a raid on the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana, California. Their discovery and subsequent return were the result of a five-year undercover, multi-agency federal investigation led by the National Park Service's Investigative Services Branch (ISB).

The Bowers Museumreached an agreementwith the US District Attorney to return the artifacts and avoid prosecution.

Two suspects were indicted on felony charges, one of whom was scheduled to go to trial in the spring of 2015.